Wisdom
teeth, or third molars, are the
final teeth to develop. Most of us have four wisdom teeth, one in each
corner of the mouth. They usually emerge during our late teens or early
twenties.
Often times, wisdom teeth become trapped
or impacted in the jawbone, or simply fail to erupt. This can cause
crowding or displacement of other teeth, or lead to the development of
localized tooth decay, infection, or gum disease. Impacted wisdom teeth
are set in the jawbone in unusual positions, sometimes horizontally,
which stops them from erupting in a normal way.
| Angular,
bony impaction of third
molar (wisdom tooth). |
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Soft
tissue impaction of third
molar (wisdom tooth). |
In most cases, it is
recommended that impacted wisdom teeth be extracted. Depending on the
position of the tooth, third molar or wisdom tooth removal can be
performed in your dentist's office, at an outpatient surgical facility,
or in a hospital.
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TYPICAL PROCEDURE
| Incision
is made and overlying
bone is removed, exposing crown of impacted tooth. |
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Tooth
is extracted whole or
surgically sectioned. The site is sutured closed. |
To ease any discomfort and promote
healing:
- Use ice packs on the cheek for
swelling, alternating on and off every thirty minutes.
- Apply biting pressure with clean gauze
to stop bleeding.
- Eat soft foods and drink extra
liquids.
- Avoid hard or crunchy foods in the
tender area.
- Brush carefully the day after surgery.
- Take prescribed medications and follow
all instructions as directed.
Call your dentist or physician
immediately in case of excessive
bleeding or swelling, persistent, severe pain or fever.
Be sure to follow the special home
care instructions provided by your dental professional.
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